Federal Labor will seek to extend for another 5 years the stay of Adelaide Zoo's pandas, who are due to return to China this year. The man waiting to be taking out with the trash, ScumMo, thought it was clever to slam the opposition for making the proposal while Queensland recovers from floods even though he is in Tasmania and, more importantly, government is not and should not be a zero sum game. It's able chew gum and walk at the same time. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... labor-plan

Federal Labor will seek to extend for another 5 years the stay of Adelaide Zoo's pandas, who are due to return to China this year. The man waiting to be taking out with the trash, ScumMo, thought it was clever to slam the opposition for making the proposal while Queensland recovers from floods even though he is in Tasmania and, more importantly, government is not and should not be a zero sum game. It's able chew gum and walk at the same time. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... labor-plan

Why would a FEDERAL government of any persuasion be involved with what exhibits any cities Zoo has on offer? Morrisons response may as usual be OTT but he has a point.

Federal Labor will seek to extend for another 5 years the stay of Adelaide Zoo's pandas, who are due to return to China this year. The man waiting to be taking out with the trash, ScumMo, thought it was clever to slam the opposition for making the proposal while Queensland recovers from floods even though he is in Tasmania and, more importantly, government is not and should not be a zero sum game. It's able chew gum and walk at the same time. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... labor-plan

Why would a FEDERAL government of any persuasion be involved with what exhibits any cities Zoo has on offer? Morrisons response may as usual be OTT but he has a point.

Because it's panda diplomacy. They are a gift/loan of the Chinese government and were negotiated to be brought here by the Howard Government to symbolise the relationship. The only reason they ended up in Adelaide is because Alexander Downer was foreign minister at the time the deal was struck.

There's some good elements to this but I still think a trick has been missed in choosing the Aboriginal Art and Cultures Gallery over a potentially more popular and tourist-attracting contemporary gallery (ideally we'd have both, but I think the latter would be the bigger drawcard, although I'd be happy to be proved wrong). It's also disappointing that there is no money here for public transport, specifically tram, funding. Whilst he has said all existing deals will be honoured, it will be interesting to see what changes Shorten makes to the city deals scheme if/when Labor is elected in May.

Adelaide’s landmark City Deal to be finalised on Tuesday, ensuring millions for future technology projects

Technologies such as smart parking and CCTV, as well as an indigenous business hub, are the final pieces of Adelaide’s $551 million City Deal.

The landmark agreement, uniting all three levels of government on a vision for Adelaide over the next decade, will be signed on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the deal meant “more jobs and more opportunities” because it focused on growing Adelaide’s population, the innovation economy and its global reputation in culture and the arts.

“Our combined investment and co-operation across the federal and state Liberal governments and local councils highlights that we all believe in Adelaide and SA and how we can make it an even better place to live,” Mr Morrison said.

The Federal Government’s commitment also includes a further $10 million for smart technologies initiatives for residents, businesses and visitors in the CBD, alongside a $12.6 million commitment by the city council to investigate initiatives including smart parking and CCTV.

The Government will also provide $3 million for an indigenous business hub that will be designed with local consultation to promote innovation, incubation and start-ups.

The Advertiser this week revealed that more than $100 million was committed by the Federal Government for several projects at the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site, including a new Mission Control Centre at the Australian Space Agency and funding for an Aboriginal art gallery.

However, the deal also includes piloting a new visa program in Greater Adelaide over the next three years to attract talented and skilled overseas workers.

Mr Tudge said it would lift Adelaide and South Australia to new economic heights.

“It will directly focus on growing Adelaide’s innovation economy, supporting population growth in the city and across the state, and boosting Adelaide’s burgeoning cultural and tourism economy,” Mr Tudge said.

Mr Marshall said it was “fantastic” that the Federal Government had continued to back his plan to improve South Australia. “Our combined investment is a great example of what happens when governments work together to deliver productive infrastructure and more opportunities,” Mr Marshall said.

Ms Verschoor said it was a historic pledge and “a once-in-a-generation deal to increase employment, tourism and economic activity in our city”.

Funding for the $551 million deal will be delivered over the next decade to meet project milestones.

The Advertiser understands that projects such as the Australian Space Agency will be allocated funding in the April 2 Federal Budget.

A spokesman for Opposition infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese said that if elected, Labor would honour “any budgeted element” of a City Deal, and would build on it under its “city partnership model”.

What’s in the City Deal

Lot Fourteen Development

$364 million from the State Government

Innovation Hub

Up to $20m from the Federal Government

Aboriginal Art and Cultures Gallery

Up to $85m (Federal)

International Centre for Tourism, Hospitality and Food Studies

$30m (Federal)

Australian Space Agency Headquarters

$26m (Federal), $2m (State) for the agency, as well as $4.2m towards a Space Innovation Fund, $2.2 million on supporting initiatives

Funding for Heysen gallery at The Cedars is interesting - a lot of powerful patrons have been lobbying for funding. From memory, the plans are quite grand, so we could gain a significant tourist attraction for the Hills.